Sample carrier



A ril 12, 1966 M. 'r. BROWN SAMPLE CARRIER Filed March 10, 1964 I NVENTOR.

MIL 701V 7. EROWN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,245,411 SAMPLE CARRIER.

Milton T. Brown, Havertown, Pa, assignor to Display Corporation. of America, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 350,863 6 Claims. (Cl. 129-1) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 261,080 filed on February 26, 1963, now Patent No. 3,197,101, and entitled: Versatile Sample Carrier.

This invention relates to a sample carrier, and more particularly to a new and improved versatile carrier for displaying flat sample specimens such as rugs, fabrics, wallpaper, etc.

The sample carrier of the present invention is of the type having separable halves with a carrying handle on a top wall of one of the halves. The side walls of the halves are structurally interrelated in a manner which facilitates supporting sample specimens therebetween. When it is desired to separate the halves, a simple unlatching means is provided which requires only a single motion with a single hand to effect the same. Hence, the sample carrier may be held in one hand and rapidly unlatched with the other hand when desired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sample carrier.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sample carrier which enables halves of the carrier to be separated by an unlatching operation which can be accomplished with one hand in a minimum amount of time.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a rugged lightweight sample carrier for flat specimens such as rugs, wallpaper, fabrics, etc.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and' instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the carrier of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional View taken along lines 22 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along lines 33 in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view taken along lines 55 in FIG- URE 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a versatile sample carrier of the present invention. The sample carrier 10 comprises a top half 12 and a bottom half 14 which are matingly juxtaposed to one another to form the carrier 10.

The top half 12 includes a side wall 16 integral with a top wall 18. The Walls 16 and 18 are disposed approximately ninety degrees with respect to each other. The Walls 16 and 18 include an inner layer 20 and an outer layer 22 with a substrate 24 disposed therebetween.

The inner layer 20 and the outer layer 22 may be any one of a wide variety of materials such as vinyl, imitation leather, paper products, etc. The substrate 24 is preferably a rugged material and may be a layer of sheet metal, Masonite, reinforced polymeric plastics, etc. A handle 26 is hingedly connected at its free ends to hinge structures 28 and 30. The hinge structures 28 and 30 are secured to and supported by the top wall 18 in any con- Patented Apr. 12, 1966 "ice venient' manner such as by rivets extending through substrate 24.

A U-shaped channel member is fixedly secured to the ends of the top wall 18-. As shown more clearly in FIG- URE 5, U-shaped channel member 32 has'one leg fixedly secured to the top' wall 18 by means of rivets 34. The U-sl'iaped channel members 32 at the ends of the top wall 18 are adaptedto be structurally interrelated with the bottom half 14 as will be made clear hereinafter.

The bottom half 14 includes a side wall 36 and atop wall' 38" interconnected by a flexible fold line 40. The walls 36'and 38, as illustrated, are provided with an inner layer 42 and an outer layer 44 which may be made of the same material as the layers 20 and 22, respectively. An elongated bar 46 which may be made from metal or other convenient material is disposed between the inner and outer layers 42 and 44 and has a length which may be substantially equal to the length of the side wall 36. A substrate member 48 is disposed above the bar 46 and a substrate member 50 is disposed below the bar 46. Substrate members 48 and 50 are of substantially the same thickness as bar 46 and may be made from any convenient material such as cardboard or the like.

A substrate 52, such as a layer of sheet metal or the like, is preferably disposed between the inner and outer layers of the top wall 38. A pair of tubes 54, one of which is shown in FIGURE 2, have one end threaded or otherwise coupled to the bar 46. The tubes 54 are spaced from one another and disposed in a position so as to extend' between the side walls 16 and 36; Since the tubes and related structure are identical, only the one illus trated in FIGURE 2 will be described in detail. The bar 46 and the substrate members 48 and 50 are preferably bonded, by an adhesive or the like, to a substrate 56. Substrate 56 is preferably a rigid member such as Masonite.

A pair of grommets 58, only one is shown in FIG- URE 2, extend through holes in the side wall 16. A threaded bolt 60 extends into and is threadedly coupled to threads on the inner surface of each of the tubes 54. Each threaded bolt is provided with an enlarged head 62 terminating in means for rotating the same such as knurling. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 2, the enlarged head 62 extends through the grommet 58.

A latch plate 64 is disposed so as to be juxtaposed to the inner layer 20 on the wall 16. Latch plate 64 has a length slightly less than the length of wall 16 and is substantially concave so as to have legs 66 and 68 extending toward the layer 20. Plate 64 is provided with a plurality of elongated slots 70 at spaced points therealong. Rivets 72 or the like couple the plate 64 to the side wall 16. A spacer 74 is supported by and extends around the body of each of the rivets 72 as shown more clearly in FIGURE 4. The spacer 74 provides a guiding surface for movement of the plate 64 so as to prevent the legs 66 and 68 from scraping against the inner surface 20. Such scraping contact would quickly result in marring of the layer 20.

The plate 64 is provided with a pair of enlarged holes 76, one for each of the heads 62. Holes 76 are slightly larger than the largest transverse dimension on the head 62 so that said head 62 may pass through said hole 76. Plate 64 is also provided with an elongated slot 78 contiguous with each of the holes 76. The slots 78 are in line with the slots 70. The transverse dimensions of the slot 78 are slightly greater than the diameter of the threaded bolts 60 but substantially less than the transverse dimensions of the heads 62. Movement of the plate 64 is capable of being effected by applying pressure to the finger tabs 80 or 82. In the position illustrated, the heads 62 are in their latched position. Such latched position can be effected by applying pressure with only one hand to the tab 80 to move the plate 64 to the position illustrated, while simultaneously holding the sample carrier 10 by the handle 26 with the other hand.

When it is desired to unlatch the halves 12 and 14 of the sample carrier 10, pressure may be applied to tab 82 to move the plate 64 tothe left inPIGURE 3 until the heads 62 are in line with the holes 76. Thereafter, the halves 12 and 14 may be moved in opposite directions away from each other to separate the halves.

The outer peripheral surface of the tubes 54 is preferably smooth and is adapted to extend through grommets, holes, or other configurations on the samples to support the same. The top wall 38 of the bottom half 14 is supported along its ends by the U-shaped channel members 32. Metal reinforcing members 33 are provided on the portions of top Wall 38 which are received within members 32. The sample carrier 10 and its specimens may be picked up and carried by the handle 26 notwithstanding the -fact that the handle 26 is only connected to the top half 12, and the fact that the specimens have substantial weight. A fully loaded sample carrier having rug specimens may weigh ten to fifteen pounds. The spacers 74 minimize frictional wear and thereby provide for ease of movement of plate 64.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a sample carrier comprising first and second mating halves, each of said halves having a top Wall and a side wall, the top walls of said halves being juxtaposed to each other, means defining a pair of U-shaped channels on the top wall of said first half with the top wall on said second half entering said channels, a handle coupled to the top wall of said first half, adjustable means extending between the side walls of said halves for supporting sample specimens, and a slidable exposed latch plate supported on the inner surface of said side wall of said first half so as to be between the side walls, said latch plate cooperating in one position with said supporting means to prevent separation of said side walls in a direction away from each other, and the portions of said top wall of said second half disposed within said channels being thicker than the remaining portion of said top wall of said second half, a flexible joint between the top and side walls of said second half, said joint being disposed between the second half top wall and said adjusting means.

2. A sample carrier in accordance with claim 1 Wherein said latch plate is coupled to said other side Wall by coupling members, and said latch plate being spaced from said other side wall by spacers extending around each coupling member.

3. A sample carrier in accordance with claim 1, wherein said adjustable means for supporting sample specimens includes a first threaded member removably coupled to one of said side walls, a second threaded member coupled to said first member and extending through a hole in the other side wall, and said side Wall latch plate, including the hole thereto with said second member extending therethrough.

4. A sample carrier in accordance with claim 3 wherein said latch plate is provided with side edges extending toward the inner surface of said other side wall, a central portion of said latch plate abutting an enlarged head on said second threaded member in one position of said latch plate.

5. A sample carrier in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first threaded member is removably coupled to said one side wall by a threaded connection, said spacing means including a third threaded member identical with said first threaded member, said third threaded member being removably coupled to said one side wall by a threaded connection, a fourth threaded member cooperating with said third threaded member in the same manner that said threaded second member cooperates with said first threaded member.

6. A sample carrier in accordance with claim 5 including a plate-like reinforcement member forming a part of said one side wall, and said first and third members being threadedly connected to said plate-like member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,733,956 10/1929 Franz l2913 1,801,956 4/1931 Franz 129l3 1,874,031 8/1932 Dawson 129l3 2,023,156 12/1935 Unger 12913 2,489,448 11/1949 Buckner 129-13 X GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Examiner. 

1. IN A SAMPLE CARRIER COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND MATING HALVES, EACH OF SAID HALVES HAVING A TOP WALL AND A SIDE WALL, THE TOP WALLS OF SAID HALVES BEING JUXTAPOSED TO EACH OTHER, MEANS DEFINING A PAIR OF U-SHAPED CHANNELS ON THE TOP WALL OF SAID FIRST HALF WITH THE TOP WALL ON SAID SECOND HALF ENTERING SAID CHANNELS, A HANDLE COUPLED TO THE TOP WALL OF SAID FIRST HALF, ADJUSTABLE MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID HALVES FOR SUPPORTING SAMPLE SPECIMENS, AND A SLIDABLE EXPOSED LATCH PLATE SUPPORTED ON THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID SIDE WALL OF SAID FIRST HALF SO AS TO BE BETWEEN THE SIDE WALLS, SAID LATCH PLATE COOPERATING IN ONE POSITION WITH SAID SUPPORTING MEANS TO PREVENT SEPARATION OF SAID SIDE WALLS IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, AND THE PORTIONS OF SAID TOP WALL OF SAID SECOND HALF DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CHANNELS BEING THICKER THAN THE REMAINING PORTION OF SAID TOP WALL OF SAID SECOND HALF, A FLEXIBLE JOINT BETWEEN THE TOP AND SIDE WALLS OF SAID SECOND HALF, SAID JOINT BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN THE SECOND HALF TOP WALL AND SAID ADJUSTING MEANS. 